Birth trauma is defined as an event occurring during the labor and delivery process that involves actual or threatened serious injury or death to the mother or her infant. The birthing woman may experience intense fear, helplessness, loss of control, and horror. In some cases, she feels stripped of her dignity and autonomy.
While there are amazing, wonderful. and compassionate care providers who give women accurate information so they can make informed choices and who support women in those choices, there are providers who do not. I frequently hear from people who report that their care providers gave them inaccurate information and were unsupportive of their decisions. Many also report being bullied, coerced, and abused.
Many share feelings of numbness, grief, shame, guilt, or sadness, and experience nightmares or flashbacks after giving birth. The well-intentioned cheer “at least you have a healthy baby” can feel dismissive and even cruel if you are feeling shattered by your birth.
We often tell ourselves, “Why am I complaining? The baby is great. Who cares how it all happened?”. But deep down, you are hurting, and it's time to change that.
The Pathways to Healing Guide by ImprovingBirth is a wonderful tool to help you navigate your feelings and begin the process of healing after a traumatic birth experience.
Visit ImprovingBirth's website now to download these free step-by-step guides to healing and accountability.
A Healthy Happy Mom is a Healthy Happy Family.